Stamp or label affixing machine.



J. C. STRNAD.

STAMP 0E LABEL .AEPIXING MACHINE.

Y y 'APPLIOATION FILED SEPT; 11, 1911 y l E mi" 9 y 1.1" 4L n 3SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patelltel` Feb. 23, 1915.

. J. C. STRNAD.

STAMP- 0R LABEL AFPIXING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1911. Lmg, Pateluised.v Feb. 23, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

[727672 for rfo 72.0, ,S'trrm f?.

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MIF.

COMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

v saumur on Leann nrrmme CHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent..

Patented Feb. 23, l9l5.

Application filed September 11, 1911. v Serial No. 648,619.

`To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that ll, JOHN C. STRNAD, acitizen of the United States of America,- residing at Highland Fark, inthe county of Wayne and btate of Michigan, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Stamp or Label Aitixing Machines,

of which the followingis -a specification,

reference being had therein to the laccompanying drawings.

The invention relates to stamp or label aflixing machines and consistsin various features ofk construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a longitudinal section partly in elevationof the machine; Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is aperspective View of a portion of the machine showing the strip guidedetached; Fig. 4C is an elevation showing the plunger and moistener;Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views showing'diferent steps in the operation;F ig'. 7 is an elevation of the reverse side of the machine of thatshown ,in- Fig. 1, illustrating the feed operating mechanisln; Fig. r8is a perspective View of the moistener detached; Fig. 9 vis a crosssection through the plunger .and moistener; Fig. 10 is a longitudinalsection through the moistener and adjacent parts; Figs. 11

and 12 are perspective views respectively of the two parts forming theinclosing case; Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 7 Ashowing the partsin different positions of adjustment; Fig. 14 is an elevation'of thestamp feeding pawls and holding dog; Fig. 15 is an elevation of theguide rolls between which the stamp strip is fed; and Fig. 16 is aperspective view of the'strip guide.4

It is the object of the invention to obtain a. simple and compactarrangement of mechanism which is-absolutely positiveA and certain inits operation and which 'prevents the extraction of the stamps or labelsin anyl other way than by the normal operation.

Generally described, the mechanism comprises a reciprocatory plunger forengaging and ',amxing the stamp, a strip feeding mechanism operated bysaid plunger during its initial movement .to register a single stamptherewith, a severing blade for detaching said stamp from the strip, anda i ymoistener which is operated subsequent to the engagement of theplunger with the' the latter 'and to clear the plunger during theaffixing operation.

The plunger A comprises a rod slidably engaglng a bearing B on the frameC of the mechanlsm and provided with a head D slldably engaging verticalguides E and carrymg a dog F engaging a ratchet bar G or other suitabledevice for compelling a complete operation before reversal. 'lhe head D1s provided on its under side with a suitable pad H' for pressingagainst the stamp and With points I for'perforating and holdfng thestamp' Iin position during its trans- J is a stamp'supporting bearinnormall in the path of the plunger, and Kgis a moisytener preferablyarranged at one end of the bearing J. The bearing J and moistener K arecarried by a. laterally movable member -Lwhich is operated by theplunger after the stamp is pressed against said bearing so that 'thelatter travels downward and is simultaneously'g Withdrawn laterally-until completely cleai` of the plungerll path. This movement holds thestamp in position during the severing operation and also during itssubsequent movement downward, while the moistener wipes the gummedsurface.

For effecting the operation just described the member L is preferablyconstructed to slidably engage inclined bearings M and is furtherprovided, with horizontal bearings `L with which the anti-friction rollsL2 on the plunger head D engage. The arrangement is such that, thepressure of the rolls L2 on the bearings L will force the member L totravel downward along the inclined guides M until said bearings L arecompletely withdrawn from the path of the'roll Aflanges L* at thc upperends of which the bearings L are formed. L5 are pins projectinglaterally from the.

flanges L4 and which engage parallel slots l l f in the frame Cconstituting the inclined guides M, said slots being opened at theirlower ends for engagement and disengagement of the pins. The fianges L'2are extend'ed rearward to form arms L to which `the spring N isdetachably secured by a cross bar N engaging notches or bearings N2.Thus the construction is one which will permit the disengagement of themember L at any time for the purpose of renewing the water supply in themoistener K or for any other purpose. The moistener K is formed ofsuitable wick or porous pad extending into the tank K,which latter isformed be` `neath the bearing J for the stamp. Thewhole construction isone that can be easily manufactured from sheet metal blanks.

The stamp `feeding mechanism comprises a suitable holder O for a roll ofstamp strip,

zo a horizontally arranged strip guide P which is in alinement with thebearing J when in its normal position, and reciprocating feeding pawls Qfor engaging the perforations in the stamp strip and advancing it into.25 registration with the plunger. It is highly desirabletoprovide aneasy means of engaging thestamp strip with the guide, and this I haveaccomplished by the provision of the detachable guide P which isslidably engageable with the main guide P. The guide P is preferablyforme of a sheet metal plate having return 'bent marginalflanges P2forming the edge guides for the strip.

This member is insertible between the sidel flanges P3 of the guide Pafter the strip has first been engaged with the return bent flanges P2,while a down bent flange P2 forms a finger hold forengaging anddisengaging the member. Y

lo The feeding pawls Q are mounted-.upon a.

slide Qffwhichslidingly. engages a bearing 50 ispivotally attached atQl5 to the slide Q.

Q6 is a pin on the bar Q4 engaging a cam bearing on `the flange P2 by:which in the return movement of the slide Q said bar is rocked tosimultaneously lift all of the pawls Q out of engagement with the' stampstrip. This cam is preferably formed by a pivot member -Q7 which liftsto permit the passage of the pin Q6 'in its forward movement and whichhas a flange Q2f'drop-- ping inthe path of said pin on its returnmovement and effecting a disengagement of therpawls as just described.

-o out o the stamp strip when not operate by the feed mechanism, a.reversally engagard against the'fraudulent drawing ing dog `R ispivotally attached at R t the slide Q'. This dog normally travels withthe strip during the forward feeding thereof and during the reversal orreturn movement of the slide Q is disengaged vby the lifting or rockingof the bar Q, which latter engages a projecting arm R2 on the dog R. Onthe other hand when the slide Q- and pawls Q are stationary, any attemptto withdraw the stamp strip will only result in causing a sharp hookedpoint R2 on the dog R to cut into the strip and destroy the stampsbefore they can be detached.

For operating the slide Q and feed pawls Q thereon a compound leveractuated by the plunger A is provided. This consists of the main leverS, which extends horizontally longitudinall of the frame adjacent to oneside thereof, being fulcrumed at S and having at its-free end adetachable engagement with the head D. As shown, S2 is a pivoted memberat the free end of the lever S, which together with a projecting fingerS3 on said lever forms a slotted bearing S2 for engag- 'l D 1| ing oneof the rolls L2. lheinember bl ai has a downward projection, which bearsagainst a rollL Si upon the frame and is held thereby from swinging onits pivot during the initial movement of the lever S. This -will causethe lever to be carried down by the plunger A and head B thereon until anotch or cut-away portion S in the member S2 registers with the roll S2.This permits the turning of the member S2 on its pivot and thedisengagement of the roll L2 therefrom, so that in the further downwardmovement of the plunger the lever S remains stationary. T'is a secondlever pivotally attached at T to the frame and having a laterallyextending portion which is connected by a pin T2 engaging a slot T3 withthe lever S. 13e-' yond the point of engagement between these levers theVlever T extends downward, and is coupled to the slide Q by 'a pin T4engaging a slotted bearing T5. Thus, the vertical swinging movement ofthe lever S is translated into a. -substantially horizontal swingingmovement of, the lever T, which actuates the slide Q inthemanner alreadydescribed. Y Y

.Ihe mechanism thus far described is housedin a suitablecasing,'preferably comprising the -members U V. These are sey curedtogether by an4 interlocking enga `e' ment of the slotted bearings Uwith hea ed pins V and a key-actuated lockW which holds all of the partsfrom disengagement. The memberV is preferably provided. with atransparent panel V2'l through which the operation of the Vmechanismwithin the case112 vcan be observed from WthoutL. A suitable 1ra-aegee@Prom vthis holder the end of the strip is drawn out between guide rollsO O2 and is engaged with theguide P which is first detached from thestationary guideP. The

. insertion of the s'trip'through the guide P is readily accomplishedwhen the latter is detached, and after threading, the member P isrengagedwith the stationary guide P. To prevent tearing of the stripduring the engagement of the guide by contact with the pawls Q, the barQ4 is lifted by means of a hookv Q9, so as to raise all of the pawls Q,and also to lift the holding dog R. This ,will clear the path of theguide P ,and strip therein during' en agement with the stationary guideP. W en the stamp strip is in position the case is again replaced andthe machine is in condition for operation.l Each time the plunger; A isdepressed the following operation will be performed: During the initialdownward movement of the plunger the roll L12-which is in engagementwith the lever S--will cause the rocking of said lever, which iscommunicated through the compound lever 'I to the slide Q. This willcause the forward movement of said slide and ithe pawls Q thereon, whichlatter engage the perforations in the stamp strip and carry it forward,feeding the free end above the bearing J and beneath the descending headI) of the plunger. At the completion of the movement `imparted to theslide- Q- the stamp strip is advanced sufficiently to bring one sta-mpin registration with the pad H on the plunger head D, while the line ofperforations between this stamp.. and the next adjacent stamp is inexact registration with a cut-oil' or shearing blade X upon thel head D.This bladeis ladapted to travel across the end of the stationary guideP, forming the coperating shearing member,

Y and to lessen the resistance in shearing the guide P is preferablyinclined upward along its shearing edge' from the sides to the center,as indicated at X2. Thus, when the shearing blade X first engages thestamp strip the contact will be at the center of the Iinclined memberX2, cutting this portion first and progressively cutting' toward the fnation wlth an alixing plunger, of a moisedges ofthe strip.

Before the blade X begins the shearmg cut, thepad Pl on the head D comesinto proximity to the projecting stem, wh1ch 1s above the bearingJ, andthe points I will engage and deliver the stamp so as to hold it fromdisplacement after severing. The

shearing action does not take place until the pivoted member S2 on thelever S registers its cut-away portion S.6 with the roll S5, whichvpermits the disengagement of the roll L2 from the lever-and prevents anyfurther mcvement of the stamp? strip', as shown. in Flgz 13. The head1)however continues its downward'n movement, and as soon as pressure ofthe pad Pl is brought to bear upon the severed stamp on the bearing Jthe rolls L2 will engage with the horizontal bearings L on4 the memberL, forcing downward this member along the inclined guides M, andaga-inst thetension of the sprmg'N until the bearingJ and moistener padK are completely withdrawn from beneath the stamp. rlhe gummed surfaceof the latter is moistenedby contactwith the pad K during theV lateralmovement thereof, and consequently the further depression of the plungerwhich carries said stem in contact with the envelop or other surface towhich it is to be affixed will complete the aflixing operation. Theplunger will then be returned by the tension of aV suitable s ring,permitting the member L and slide to assume their respective initialpositions. During this movement the pin Q6 on the rockabl'e bar Q5* willpass up the incline o f the flange Q8 upon the member Q7, which willlift said bar Q* together with the pawls Q and dog R so as to completelydisengage thel same from the sta-mp strip.

Whenever `it is necessary to renew the water supply in the moistener,the case is removed and the bar l is disengaged from the bearings N2,relieving the tension of the spring N and permitting the slipping out ofthe member L from the inclined guides M.

The tank K may then be re-illed by detachguide P'when the strip isdrawnover the portion X as this will bend the strip so as to prevent curlingof the projected stamp before the latter is severed. WhatI claim as myinvention is,-

1. In a label-affixin-g machine, the combivside'tlwreof,amoisteningmemla'er alinedwith said guide in the path of said plunger,means actuated vby said plunger for feeding the label strip along saidguide and between said VIl() plunger and moistening member, and meansactuated by the depression of said plunger beyond the point ofengagement with the label for withdrawing said member laterally to clearthe plunger.

3. In alabel-atiixing machine, the combination with an affxingreciprocatory plunger, of a moistening member arranged across thel pathof said plunger, means for feeding the label between the plunger andsaid member, and parallel guides for said member.

arranged at an angle to the path of movement of said plunger, wherebythe pressure of said plunger upon said member will cause the lateralwithdrawal thereof.

' 4. In al label-.aflixing machine, the combination with an aixingreciprocatory pluner of a movable moistenin member arranged across thepath of said plunger, and a guide for said movable member arranged atanangle to the path of movement of said plunger, whereby said movablemember is directly actuated by said'plunger to be withdrawn laterallyfrom the path thereof.

5. Ina label-atlixing machine, the combination with an alixingreciprocatory pluner of a movable moisteninff member ar- .ranged acrossthe path of'said plunger and actuated thereby, and parallel guides forsaid movable member extending at an angle tothe path of movement of saidplunger and Acausing the lateral Withdrawal of said member.

6. In a label-affixing machine, the combi- .nation with an ailxingreciprocatory plunger, of a moistening member `extending acrossthepathof said plunger and actuated thereby, and guides for holding said memberparallel to the face of said plunger and' extending at an angle to thedirection of'movement thereof, whereby the pressure of said plunger willcause the lateral withdrawal of said member. 7. In a label-affixingmachine, .the combination with an aixing reciprocatory plunger, of amoistening member varranged across the path of said plunger and actuatedthereby, guides for said memberl arranged at an fangle to the nath ofmovement of said plunger whereby the depression of the latter willlbervto return vthe sameupon the withdrawal able coperatng bearings onsaid plunger and member for causing' thelateral withilixing machine, thecombidrawal of said member upon the depression of said plunger,resilient means for returning said member, and a bearing for holdingsaid bearings having a longitudinal traveling engagement therewith,whereby said member is laterally withdrawn from the path of said plungerand held in its withdrawn position during the continued movementof saidplunger.

10. In a label-aixing machine, the combination with an afiixingreciprocatory plunger, of a movable member extending across the path ofsaid plunger, a guide for said movable member at an angle to thedirection of movement of said plunger whereby the direct actuation ofthe latter Will cause the lateral withdrawal of the former, means forfeeding a gummed label between said plunger and member, and a moistenercarried by said member actuated thereby to wipe across the gummedsurface of said label during the lateral withdrawal of said member.

11. In a label-aflixing machine, the combination with an aixingreciprocatory plunger, of a guide for the label strip extendingtransversely to the directionv of movement of said plunger; a member inalinement with said guide'and in the path of said plunger, a guide forsaid member linclined to the direction of movement of said plunger,means actuated by said plunger-for advancing the label strip `along saidguide and above said member, a cut-olf for severing the label advancedvbeneath said plunger from the strip, anda moistener carried by saidmember and actuated thereby to wipe across the gummed surface of saidlabel.

12. In a label-afixing machine, the combination with an axingreciprocatory plunger, of a framel in which said 'plunger is mounted,guide bearings in said frame at an i angle to the direction of movementof said plunger, and a moistening member AdetachL ably engaging saidangling guide bearings normally in the path ofthe plunger and directlyactuated thereby to be laterally withdrawn from said path upon, thedepression of said plunger.

13. In a label-ailixing machine, thlcombnation with an aflixingreciprocatory plunger, of a frame in which said plunger is mounted, aguide on said frame at an angle to the direction of movement of saidplunger, a member detachablyengaging said f guide directly actuated bysaid plunger,

means for feeding a label between said plunger and member, and amolstener carried by said member and actuated thereby to wipe across thegummed face of said label.

- 14. ln a label-allixing machine, the com hination with an alixingreciprocatory plunger, of a frame in which said plunger is mountedhaving parallel side plates, slotted guides in said. lsidevplatesarranged atan angle to the direction of movement of said plunger, amember detachably engaging said slotted guides and'normally in the path'of said plunger, and a moistener carried by said detachable member.

15. ln a label-alixing machine, the 'combination with an aifixingreciprocatory plunger, of,a frame in which said plunger is mountedhaving parallel side .plates and slotted guides on said side plates atan angle to the direction of movement of said plunger, a member fittinglbetween said plates detachably engaging said angling guides, amoistener carried by said member, and means for yieldably holding saidmember normally in the path of said plunger whereby the direct actuationof said plunger will lcause the lateral withdrawal of said member andmoistener.

16. In a label-ailixing machine, the com'- bination with an aflixingreciprocatory plun-;

ger, of' a guide for the label strip extending transversev to thedirection of-movement of said plunger, a shearing blade carried by saidplunger and co-acting with the end of said'guide, a member arranged inthe path of said plunger and normally in substantial alinement with`said guide, a guide for said member inclined tothe direction of movementof said plunger, means actuated by said plunger for advancing the labelstrip along said guide and for projectingvone label in registrationwithsaid vplunger and mem- Maaate ber, and a moistener carried by saidmember adapted to wipe across the gummed face of said label after theshearing of the same from the strip and during the further depression ofsaid plunger.

17. Ina label-afixingmachine, the combination with an aiixingreciprocatory plunger, of a frame in which said plunger is mountedhaving parallel side plates and inclined parallel guide slots in saidside plates,

a moistening member fitting between said side plates detachably engagingsaid parallel guide slots, a Aroll on said plunger, and a` laterallyextending bearing on said member in the path-of said roll 'whereby the'depression of said plunger will cause the lateral withdrawal of saidmember, and a vspring detachably engaging said member for yieldablyholding the same in normal position.

18. The combination with an `ailixing plunger, cfa strip guide extendingtransversely thereof, a moistening member in substantial alinement withsaid strip guide and normally in the path of said plunger beingdepressible by the latter, and means coperating with said member forwithdrawing the same laterally during the further' depression of saidplunger.

19.` The combination with an aiiixing plunger, of a moistening membernormally in the path of said plunger and depressible bv the latter,means actuated during the initialv movement of said plunger for feedinga strip between the plunger and said member, and means for laterallywithdrawing )said member during the downward movement thereof with saidplunger.

ln testimony whereof ll aihx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I yJOHN C. STRNAD. Witnesses y JAMES PBAnkr,

C. B.`B1ur.i1\mrf.

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